Editorial: Cullerton is person to limit state dysfunction

If the consequences weren’t so serious, last week’s “big announcement” from Gov. Rod Blagojevich would have been purely comical.

If the consequences weren’t so serious, last week’s “big announcement” from Gov. Rod Blagojevich would have been purely comical.

In a press release headlined, “Governor Blagojevich Announces Plan to Manage Fiscal Year 2009 Budget deficit,” the governor seemed to cast himself as FDR, imploring the legislature to grant him a slew of new fiscal powers so he might wage war on the state’s deficit. Central to this plan was passage by the General Assembly of the Emergency Budget Act (or the EBA, to give it a New Deal ring), which would give Blagojevich authority to cut 8 percent of spending from the state budget’s general fund. In essence, he was asking lawmakers to give him sole authority over $2.2 billion in state spending.

It was fitting that as this announcement landed with the news media and lawmakers, the governor himself was in Beverly Hills, Calif., at the Governors’ Global Climate summit. We’re sure that Blagojevich would have much rather been here toiling with the General Assembly during its November veto session — perhaps even explaining his “plan” to lawmakers — but standing up Gov. Schwarzenegger in sunny California would have been downright rude.

Our favorite part of the governor’s “plan” was the part where the federal government comes to the rescue of Illinois to the tune of $1 billion per year for the next three years. Blagojevich would be sending a letter to Illinois’ congressional delegation “detailing the effects that the poor economic condition has had on Illinois,” his press release said.

A few weeks ago, Sen. Dick Durbin told The State Journal-Register’s editorial board that his phone calls to Blagojevich went unanswered. Aside from the absurdity of the federal government taking special pity on Illinois at this moment, are we to believe that a governor who can’t even return phone calls from his own senator — the U.S. Senate’s second-in-command, no less — will have any sway whatsoever with his state’s congressional delegation?

The governor jetted back from Beverly Hills while the General Assembly was still at work, but couldn’t find his way to Springfield to be part of the action.

The House and Senate ignored the governor’s proposal, making the fanfare with which it had been announced on Tuesday seem all the more ridiculous.

If last week typified the dysfunction in Illinois government — and the delusional nature of Blagojevich’s outlook — it also brought a solid sign of better things to come in January. The election of Illinois Sen. John Cullerton as Senate president means Blagojevich almost certainly will lose the automatic alliance he had with the Senate under Senate President Emil Jones. Unlike Jones, Cullerton does not bring antagonism toward House Speaker Michael Madigan to the Senate presidency. That means the two chambers can work together to rein in Blagojevich.

More importantly, Cullerton brings an extensive record as a leader in the Senate and a shrewd yet conscientious legislator. Two of the most important public health and safety measures in Illinois — the mandatory seat belt law and the statewide indoor smoking ban — bore Cullerton’s fingerprints.

To the extent that anyone can bring Blagojevich back into the real world, Cullerton is that person. (Likewise, Senate minority leader-elect Christine Radogno will be a strong addition to the legislative leadership ranks.)

With Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes predicting doom by March without significant action on the budget, Cullerton will need to arrive in January ready to quickly bring some semblance of order to Illinois government. Based on his record so far, we’re optimistic he is up to the task.